In order to facilitate citizens, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced that designated banks will remain open on Saturday and Sunday, November 30 and December 1, to receive Hajj 2025 applications across the country.

According to a circular of the SBP issued today, the branches of designated banks will remain operational from 9am to 2:30pm on Saturday and Sunday to facilitate the collection of Hajj applications along with dues from the intending pilgrims for Hajj 2025.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has designated 15 banks to collect Hajj applications and dues from intending pilgrims for Hajj 2025 from November 18, 2024, to December 3, 2024, throughout the country.

About 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj under the government scheme next year at a cost of between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000.

Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain said 179,210 Pakistanis will perform the Hajj, while citizens under 12 years old will not be allowed to travel for the holy pilgrimage.

Detailing the expected expenditures of a pilgrim to visit the holiest sites in Saudi Arabia, the minister announced that it would vary between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000.

A pilgrim will have to submit Rs200,000 along with the Hajj application and deposit Rs400,000 after being selected via balloting, whereas, the remaining payments will be paid by February 10, 2025.

In case of cancellation, the refund of the first installment will be made after a deduction of Rs50,000, whereas, Rs200,000 will be deducted in case of failure to pay the third instalment and no refunds will be made after February 10, 2025.

Under the policy, the compensation for the heirs of the deceased has been increased from Rs1 million to Rs2 million, the minister said.

Under the chair of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the federal cabinet members had greenlighted the Hajj Policy 2025 last week.

As per the policy, 1,000 seats would be allocated for hardship cases and 300 for labourers and low-income employees registered under the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) or Workers Welfare Fund, it added.

Road to Makkah facility would be available at Islamabad and Karachi international airports.

The Hajj group organisers would sign a service provider agreement with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which would be strictly monitored.

It was told that a new portfolio of Nazim (administrator) had been introduced to facilitate the pilgrims. One Nazim will be appointed for each group of 100 pilgrims, who will be selected from among the welfare staff.

The cabinet members were told that a special Hajj Management App has been developed to facilitate the pilgrims and arrangements have been made for their training.